Method of making a mixing tool

ABSTRACT

A method of making a tool defined by an elongate shaft medially mounted to a paddle at its lowermost terminal end. The paddle includes an elastomeric body formed of a flexible memory retentent material, including reinforcing members mounted at each side and lower terminal end of the paddle to permit enhanced scraping and removal of fluid components from within a container during use. The organization includes a framework mounting the side blades, with the lower blades spaced from the framework subsequently encased by the elastomeric material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of invention relates a paddle apparatus, and more particularlypertains to a new and improved mixing tool wherein the same is arrangedfor scraping fluid contents from within a container such as for use inthe stirring of pigments normally maintained in a colloidal suspension.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various mixing and scraping paddles have been set forth in the priorart. Heretofore, however, the prior art has not provided an organizationconveniently arranged in a manner as set forth by the instant invention.Such an example may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,325,627 to Adler, et al.wherein a spatula arranged for manual manipulation includes a centralheating element directed therethrough.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,895 to Rodgers sets forth a paint stirring apparatuswherein an elongate handle includes a series of flexible elementsmounted to a lower terminal end of the handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,445 to Olsson sets forth a paddle structureutilizing a kneading knife edge offset from the handle in anasymmetrical configuration.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,510 to Barbour, et al. sets forth a stirringorganization set forth as a whisk, wherein a central handle includes aseries of loops defining the whisk structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,255 to Kafka sets forth a kitchen appliance networkmounting various stirring implements such as a whisk, a paddle, and thelike.

As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for anew and improved mixing tool as set forth by the instant invention whichaddresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness inconstruction and in this respect, the present invention substantiallyfulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofmixing tool organizations now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides a mixing tool wherein the same sets forth a methodand apparatus for providing a mixing tool formed with scraping blades atthe side and lower edges thereof mounted and encased in an elastomericbody of memory retentent material. As such, the general purpose of thepresent invention, which will be described subsequently in greaterdetail, is to provide a new and improved mixing tool which has all theadvantages of the prior art mixing tools and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention provides a method and apparatusincluding a tool defined by an elongate shaft medially mounted to apaddle at its lowermost terminal end. The paddle includes an elastomericbody formed of a flexible memory retentent material, includingreinforcing members mounted at each side and lower terminal end of thepaddle to permit enhanced scraping and removal of fluid components fromwithin a container during use. The organization includes a frameworkmounting the side blades, with the lower blades spaced from theframework subsequently encased by the eleastomeric material.

My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but ratherin the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed andclaimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particularcombination of all of its structures for the functions specified.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon whichthis disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for thedesigning of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out theseveral purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

Futher, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescentists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved mixing tool which has all the advantages of the prior artmixing tools and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved mixing tool which may be easily and efficiently manufacturedand marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved mixing tool which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved mixing tool which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacturewith regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is thensusceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, therebymaking such mixing tools economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newand improved mixing tool which provides in the apparatuses and methodsof the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneouslyovercoming some of the disadvantages normally assciated therewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved mixing tool wherein the same s arranged for selectivesecurement to a structure for rotation or selectively may be manuallymanipulated for scraping various liquids from within a container, suchas liquid pigments and the like.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a prior art mixing tool.

FIG. 2 is an orthographic side view, taken in elevation, of a furtherexample of a prior art mixing tool.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic view, taken in elevation, of the instantinvention.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic top view of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration setting forth an initial step in theconstruction of the instant invention.

FIG. 6 is an isometric illustration of the instant invention with theelastomeric encasing defining the paddle structure.

FIG. 7 is an isometric illustration of a modification of the instantinvention.

FIG. 8 is an orthographic view, taken along the lines 8--8 of FIG. 7 inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 to 8thereof, a new and improved mixing tool embodying the principles andconcepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art mixing tool 1, wherein an elongate handle3 includes a thermostat member 2 mounting a heating element therethroughto effect heating of the paddle structure 4 mounted at the lower end ofthe mixing organization, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,325,627. FIG. 2illustrates a further example of a mixing structure 5, as utilized inthe prior art, wherein an elongate handle 6 mounts a series of flexiblemembers 7 at a lower terminal end thereof for use in the mixing andstirring of paint within a container, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No.4,884,895.

More specifically, the mixing tool 10 of the instant inventionessentially comprises a central shaft 11 that may be manuallymanipulated or fixedly mounted for rotation within a chuck of a drillstructure "D", as illustrated in FIG. 3. The central shaft includes asemi-rigid paddle 12 mounted at a lower terminal end thereof, with thepaddle 12 including a body formed of an elastomeric semi-rigid materialof memory retentent characteristic. A respective right and leftreinforcing rib 14 and 15 are coextensively positioned in a parallelrelationship relative to one another at opposed right and left edges ofthe paddle 12 in a parallel relationship relative to one another and tothe shaft 11, with the shaft 11 directed medially through the paddle 12.A bottom rib 16 is mounted to a bottom edge of the paddle 12orthogonally relative to the right and left reinforcing rib edges 14 and15 and spaced forwardly of the ribs 14 and 15. A main convex bodyportion 17 is formed about the shaft 11 and includes narrowed sideportions 18 extending laterally and outwardly of the main body portion,with the ribs 14 and 15 formed to the terminal side edges of the sideportions 18.

In producing the instant invention, a method utilized includes theformation of a rectangular, metallic framework 20 that includes verticalside rails 21 arranged parallel relative to one another and are mountedmedially of the shaft 11 spaced from the lower terminal end of the shaft11 in a parallel relationship. A scraper blade 22 is mountedcoextensively with each side rail 21, with each scraper blade 22including a laterally extending knife edge 23, wherein each of the knifeedges 23 are parallel relative to one another, as illustrated in FIG. 5for example. A lower horizontal rail 24 and upper horizontal rail 25completes the rectangular framework 20. A bottom scraper blade 28 ismounted adjacent the lower terminal end of the shaft 11, with the bottomscraper blade 28 arranged parallel to the lower and upper horizontalrails 24 and 25. Further, a securement band 26 is mounted about thelower terminal end of the shaft 11 and includes a fastener 27 directedthrough the band and into the shaft 11 to mount the bottom scraper blade28 to the shaft 11. In a like manner, a securement band 26 is mountedabout each of the upper and lower rails 25 and 24, including a fastener27 directed therethrough to secure each of the bands and the associatedupper and lower rails to the shaft 11, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Itshould also be noted that a bottom knife edge 29 extends forwardly orbelow the scraper blade 28 and is arranged orthogonally relative to thescraper blades 22 and spaced below the side scraper blades in theaforenoted orthogonal relationship. An elastomeric body 30 is cast aboutthe rectangular framework 20 and encompasses the framework and the shaftportion 11 directecd through the framework, as well as the shaft portion11 directed below the framework. The elastomeric body encompasses theframework and the scraper blade structure, with the exception of thebottom edge 29 and the parallel side knife edges 23 that are exposed andextend exteriorly of the elastomeric body.

A modified version of the invention includes the elastomeric body 30exposing reinforcing rods, including side reinforcing rods 31 and abottom reinforcing rod 32 in lieu of the respective parallel side knifeedges 23 and the bottom knife edge 29.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, thesame should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly nofurther discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation of theinstant invention shall be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention,the include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function andmanner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent andobvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships tothose illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent of the United States is as follows:
 1. A method of making amixing tool comprising the steps of, providing a cental, elongateaxially aligned shaft, andforming a rectangular rigid framework havingspaced parallel vertical side rails, a lower horizontal rail and anupper horizontal rail, with the lower and upper horizontal railsarranged parallel relative to one another, securing the shaft mediallyof the framework spaced from a lower terminal end of the shaft; mountinga scraper blade to each of the side rails coextensively with each siderail; mounting a bottom scraper blade to the lower terminal end of theshaft spaced from the horizontal framework, and encasing the rectangularframework and the bottom scraper blade in an elastomeric body formedwith a semi-rigid memory retentent material.
 2. The method as set forthin claim 1 including the step of providing a knife edge to each sidescraper blade, wherein the knife edges and arranged parallel relative toone another and coextensive with each of the side rails, and providing abottom knife edge to the bottom scraper blade, wherein the bottom knifeedges are arranged orthogonally relative to the side knife edges andspaced below the side knife edges, and wherein the step of encasing therectangular framework and the bottom scraper blade includes the step ofexposing the bottom knife edge and the parallel side knife edges for theparallel side knife edges and the bottom knife edge to extend exteriorlyof the elastomeric body.
 3. The method as set forth in claim 2 whereinthe method includes the step of providing a first securement band aboutthe central shaft and securing the central shaft medially of the upperhorizontal rail, and providing a second securement band about thecentral shaft securing the central shaft to the lower horizontal rail,and providing a third securement band about the central shaft securingthe central shaft to the bottom scraper blade, with the lower terminalend of the central shaft positioned medially of the bottom scraper bladeand arranged orthogonally thereto.
 4. The method as set forth in claim 3including the step of directing a fastener through each securement bandinto the central shaft prior to encasing the framework and the bottomscraper blade in the elastomeric body.